Faculty Activities

2017 CSM Texas State University PT Alumni Reception

Thank you to those who attended the 2017 CSM Texas State University PT Alumni Reception. We are proud to announce that the campaign is live!

The Dr. Barbara Melzer Scholarship was established in honor of Dr. Melzer's commitment to excellence in clinical education. Dr. Melzer was an active member of the physical therapy profession at the local, state, and national levels for 38 years. During her 25 years at Texas State she served as Professor, and the Director of Clinical Education, and represented the College of Health Professions on the Faculty Senate. She won the Texas State University Presidential Award for Service multiple times.

This scholarship highlights her love and passion for the profession and her students' clinical education experiences. We hope to be able to expand the number of students we can support during their clinical education through this fundraising campaign. With your help we aim to raise $3,000 to assist our students with their clinical education experiences.

Please consider making a donation to support and honor the legacy of Dr. Barbara Melzer! Your contribution will help to ensure and support the clinical education experiences of our physical therapy students. We ask that you help us spread the word by sharing this campaign page with your individual network through social media, emails, texts, and calls. We appreciate your support!

During the four-day course, physical therapy educators immersed themselves in learning about the latest evidence-based findings in Parkinson’s research and care so they can, in turn, educate physical therapy students. By bringing this knowledge back to their students, our future practitioners, physical therapy educators can make a great impact on the lives of people living with Parkinson’s disease.

(02-21-2019)

Dr. Barbara Sanders received the University of Kentucky Alumni Association Distinguished Service award. The purpose is to recognize a select number of alumni and friends who have demonstrated a history of diligent work for the University of Kentucky, which may be in support of the UK Alumni Association and/or other colleges and units of the university. It also serves to recognize individuals who have contributed to the accomplishments of the University of Kentucky, provided leadership and dedication to the university and association programs, and provided meaningful service to alumni and friends of the university as well as to their communities and professions. Each year several awards are presented to alumni members of the UK Alumni Association. There are a total of 247 honorees at this time.

Barbara Sanders, Professor of Physical Therapy and Associate Dean of the College of Health Professions, Texas State University, lives in Austin, Texas. Dr. Sanders received her physical therapy education at the University of Kentucky and completed her doctoral work at the University of Texas. At Texas State for over 30 years, she has had responsibility for development of the curriculum for entry level education for physical therapists at the baccalaureate, masters and the doctorate level. Prior to her appointment at Texas State, Sanders served as Director of Clinical Education at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse and on the faculty at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Sanders has been an active participant in Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) serving as a site visitor and team leader for over 10 years. She has been a consultant in education and evaluation of foreign educated physical therapists.

Dr. Sanders has been active in a number of professional organizations including serving on the Board of Trustees of CGFNS International, President of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy, an active member of the AAOSM, ICCUS, and the APTA and state chapters. As a member of APTA, Sanders has served in leadership positions at the local, chapter, section and national level. She currently serves as a member of the Texas State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. A board certified specialist in sports, Sanders has been in clinical practice in Kentucky, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Tennessee and Texas; in acute care, rehabilitation, home health, long term care, outpatient orthopaedics and sports. She was recognized in 2010 with designation as a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA.

Dr. Sanders is a K Club member, a President’s Society Fellow, a Wildcat Society member and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Health Sciences and an active board member of the UK Alumni Association. She and her husband were instrumental in establishing the Central Texas Alumni Club Chapter. Her daughter, Whitney, son-in-law, Josh Duddey and husband, Michael, hold degrees from the University of Kentucky. Her friends and colleagues know that her blood is “BLUE.”